Dr Rebecca Cain, Associate Professor and Head of the Experiential Engineering Research Group at WMG, University of Warwick, has been selected to join the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Early Career Forum in Manufacturing Research.

The EPSRC Early Career Forum (ECF) for Manufacturing Research has a strong focus on advancing the UK's international reputation in manufacturing research, through developing inter-disciplinary research agendas, and impacting upon research policy development. Ten new members are selected each year, in a competitive application process. Members of the Early Career Forum have the opportunity to interact with other early career researchers from across the breadth of engineering and the physical sciences, forming new professional networks that may generate future innovative research programmes.

Dr Cain, who has a background in design, comments: "I'm honoured to have been given this is exciting opportunity to input into the future of manufacturing research, and to raise the profile and importance of design within the manufacturing research agenda. The forum offers excellent opportunities to network with a wide variety of other early career researchers from diverse, yet complementary disciplines."

In her role at WMG, Dr Cain leads the Experiential Engineering research group, which delivers experience-led research for products, environments and services across the automotive, rail, energy and healthcare sectors, in collaboration with industry partners.

Professor Barbara Shollock, Academic Director at WMG said: “Many congratulations to Rebecca on behalf of WMG. This is great for her as an early career researcher, and a fantastic opportunity to further the research of the department and contribute even more to generating innovative, world-class, research advancements in the manufacturing world.”